Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowmeow · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Location: pc room

I've lived in Cheongju and Busan, and both times I think I have missed the boat. The first time I didn't know any better, although it was a nice enough city. In Cheongju I had larger apartments, more open spaces to pedal around on my bike. I appreciated that aspect of the city. Busan is good in that I can go to professional soccer, baseball and basketball games, eat a lot of different kinds of foreign food and workout with an amateur sports club here. But it turns out that neither place had or has what I was hoping to find. In a country as small as Korea, it makes sense that all the big events, more obscure activities and opportunities to train for my particular sport, can visit the national Olympic training center (hopefully), foreigner friendly places, the works. I don't think I want to come back to this country ever again, but if I did I would insist on Seoul, only Seoul, and only certain areas of Seoul, eg. northeast near the Olympic Park.

Anyone else discover that a certain city turns out to be the only place where you might possibly wear a smile on your face most of the time? So many mistakes.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Yep. I got pretty close this time -- in Seoul, but not a cool area. Now that I've been around a bit, I know exactly where I want to live next time around.

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

For me, I think Seoul is the only place I could be happy. I live in Shinchon and I love it. I doubt I'll live anywhere else.

Oreovictim · Joined: 23 Aug 2006

Yeah, I'm new here, and I live in Cheong-ju. My school and director really rock, but I'm not that crazy over the town. The area that I live at is on the dead/rundown part of town. Sure, it's only a three dollar taxi drive to the downtown area, but I just hate looking at my side of town.

If I do another tour, I'll probably look elsewhere.

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

For the first year and a half, living in Daegu was OK. But now, I could never go back. Once being to Seoul, I realize now I could not live elsewhere. Seoul, and only Seoul.

vox · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Location: Jeollabukdo

Oh! Oh! Gotta say something here!

When I came back to Korea for a job in small-shi, sticks-dong, Korea, I thought I'd desperately miss Seoul and for the first few months, I did romanticize Seoul. But small-shi sticks-dong has definitely started working its magic on me and I think I could even re-sign for another year here.

I accredit this to knowing myself well enough to know what makes a place feel like home for me, and aggressively re-creating those conditions where I am. I've got a lot of extra social stuff going on down here in smallville.

That and the extra cash. And the kick-a*s apartment. I may yet try to move up, but all reports from my region are that life does exist outside of Seoul, and it can be good.

Just to mix the statistics a little bit.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I think Seoul is less of a gamble to live in. It's easier to make friends, easier to find comfort food, and you get treated a little better by Koreans. You need to be tough to live in the countryside.

Incidentally, I've been to Cheongju a couple times and it's an awesome town with a great underground music scene. If I had to live anywhere else, that would've been my choice.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I didnt know any better, and now I live in Gunsan, close to Jeonju. I'm not sure if cheonju and jeonju are the same town, cause I've noticed towns can be spelt similar ways.

I'm finding it difficult to find other foreigner friends here....

51 more weeks to go.....lol

Zenpickle · Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Location: Anyang -- Bisan

I'm sorry, but if someone is not happy unless he's surrounded by foreigners and comfort food, he's not ready to leave home yet. Sorta missing the point of going overseas.

Oh yeah... I just made chili this weekend. DOH!

vox · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Location: Jeollabukdo

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

With me personally, I could be happy almost anyplace I can make friends and listen to my mp3 player.
I mean, we aren't talking about work right? Just where we live?

I lived in a small town outside of busan for three years. It was pretty good: a 25minute car ride into PNU. We lived on a mountain; it was nice and quiet...DEAD quiet...the air felt as clean as could get. Really close to nice hikes. everything that I'd need was walking distance, but there were problems.

Now we live in busan. Luckily we're again situated on a mountain though it's a bit busier, we also live right next to a sports centre. the problem is that we are relatively FAR away from a supermarket. It's kind of strange.

But if you ask me, you can live almost anywhere so long as you look hard enough, and are open minded enough to find what is good about it.

The Hierophant · Joined: 13 Sep 2005

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

Bundang

poet13 · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject:

I've spent time in a bunch of places. Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Uijamboo (however you spell it), Dong du chon, Paju, Pyoungtaek.... and now my little rural city.
I used to live in Wash DC and visit New York to play. Great place to play, but I wouldnt want to live there. Same goes for Seoul. Great place to play, but I never want to live there. I like my little city, and I can't imagine being happier anywhere else.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I choose a smaller city, cause I dont like bigger cities. But I enjoy a social life, lol....I guess I will know for next time, if there is a next time....